Three SUNY Morrisville faculty and staff members were recently honored with Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence by the State University of New York and SUNY Chancellor John B. King.
Receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service is:
Laura Pierie, of Morrisville, associate professor of humanities
The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service recognizes the consistently superior service contributions of full-time teaching faculty.
Since joining SUNY Morrisville in 2014, Pierie has demonstrated a commitment to campus leadership and academic excellence, serving in key roles in the Division of Human Development and Society for General Education and Liberal Arts, Journalism & Education. She served as past president of the College Senate and is currently past president.
As an Army veteran, Pierie continued her service through advocacy work for veterans at SUNY Morrisville and was a member of the college’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force. Outside campus, she works with women's Veterans groups.
Her contributions also include successful grant proposals, participation in numerous lectures and presentations, and co-authorship of a scholarly publication. Beyond the classroom, she served as assistant editor of the Online Learning Consortium (OLC).
Pierie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree as a dual major in literature and writing with secondary English teacher certification and a Master of Arts in discourse studies, both from SUNY Potsdam. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in educational theory and practice.
Receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service is:
Marc Cianciola, of Canastota, Assistant Director of Student Activities
The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service recognizes outstanding job performance by professional staff in administrative positions and those who have transcended the normal definitions of excellence.
Cianciola, who joined the staff in 2013, has made significant contributions to the campus through his various service, which includes advising the Campus Activities Board, the Morrisville Outreach and Volunteer Efforts student group and co-supervising Student Government Organization event staff.
Additionally, he served as chair of the college’s commencement and New York State Fair committees. He also serves as the contingent officer for the SUNY Morrisville Chapter of United University Professions (UUP), as well as on the Statewide Outreach Committee for UUP and is vice president of professionals elect.
Cianciola was recently awarded Northeast Regional Advisor of the Year 2024 by the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities.
An active member in his community, he coached in the Canastota AYSO Program, assists with the Coliseum Soccer Club and is a member of the Canastota School Board, where he serves on the finance and policy committees. He is a member of Konosioni Masonic Lodge, Tigris Shriners and the Shriners International Hospitals for Children.
Cianciola earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees from SUNY Potsdam and a Master of Education from Kaplan University.
Receiving the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service is:
Rhonda Davis, of Morrisville, payroll examiner 2
The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service recognizes employees who have consistently demonstrated superlative performance within and beyond their position.
Prior to her current position, she was a Keyboard Specialist 2 in the Business Office, Administrative Assistant 1 to the Director of Business Affairs and Administrative Assistant 1 in the Athletics Department.
Davis co-owns and operates Davis Automotive Inc., Davis-Willowbrook Service and Repair and Davis Willowbrook Farm with her husband, Christopher, a 1995 graduate of the college’s diesel technology program.
The couple, who met at the college, live in Morrisville with their daughters, Joy, a 2024 graduate of SUNY Morrisville’s individual studies program, and Priscilla.
Davis earned an associate degree from the college’s former restaurant management program in 1996, where she was named to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and was a member of the college’s former International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) branch.
SUNY Morrisville’s curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
For more information about SUNY Morrisville, visit www.morrisville.edu.
